Fire Ban Definitions

A Total Fire Ban (TFB) is declared because of extreme weather conditions or when widespread fires are seriously stretching firefighting resources. It is declared by the Minister for Emergency Services on advice from DFES after consultation with relevant local councils that may be affected.
When a TFB is declared it prohibits the lighting of any fires in open air and any other activities that may start a fire.

The ban includes all open fires for the purpose of cooking or camping. It also includes incinerators, welding, grinding, soldering or gas cutting.

Exemptions are allowed for domestic purposes with conditions applied.

Harvest and Vehicle Movement Bans are generally issued on very hot and/or windy days when the risk of starting a fire, or a fire being difficult to control, is much high than normal. A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban may be issued at any time, especially if fire resources are stretched.

It is your responsibility as a property owner or resident to be aware of any bans in place before undertaking an agricultural activity including harvesting as you could be fined for breaching a ban.

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is a ban that individual local governments are responsible for issuing under the Bush Fires Regulations 1954 Section 38A, and/or Section 24C.

Local government will impose the ban when their Chief Bush Fire Control Officer is of the opinion that the use of engines, vehicles, plant or machinery during the prohibited burning times or the restricted burning times or both is likely to cause a fire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire

The ban will also be imposed if the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer is satisfied that the bushfire danger index for the area is, or exceeds 35.

A Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban may be imposed for any length of time but is generally imposed for the ‘heat of the day’ periods and may be extended or revoked by the local government should, or as weather conditions change.

Activities considered likely to cause a fire are:

• The use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant equipment or machinery on land where there is bush or which is under crop pasture or stubble, (predominantly these are imposed in rural wheat belt areas for harvesting operations however they also extend to the urban interface and Southwest communities for movement of vehicles and off-road bikes and the use of chainsaws etc in bushlands and open paddocks)
• Operating of welding apparatus and power operated abrasive cutting discs
• The activities likely to cause a fire extend beyond the few mentioned above.

The responsibility remains on the individual to ensure that any activity underway is not likely to commence a fire and that a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban is currently not in place in their local government district.

To find out if a Harvest and Vehicle Movement Ban has been imposed you need to contact your local council and ask for their Ranger Services.

Residents are advised that on a day the City of Kalamunda Chief Bush Fire Control Officer declares a Total Harvest and Movement ban, the following applies according to regulation 38A of the Bush Fires Act (Restricted and Prohibited Burning Times). When these bans are imposed they will be broadcast on ABC radio 720am at the following times:

• 1005
• 1235 (1305 in Perth)
• 1405

Please note that the following applies according to regulation 38A of the Bush Fires Act (Restricted and Prohibited Burning Times):

ACTIVITIES NOT PERMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE BAN 

• Harvesting operations are not permitted,
•  Any “hot works” (e.g. welding, grinding, cutting, heating etc) in the “open air” are not permitted,
• Other – Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bushfire. 

ACTIVITIES PERMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE BAN

• Movement of Vehicles on “gazetted roads” (as described in Bush Fires regulation 24A(1) and Road Traffic Act 1974 section 5.1)).
• Movement of vehicles on a lane, driveway, yard or other area that provides access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire.
• Use or operation of a vehicle if it is for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bush fire danger. 

Use or operations of vehicles and undertaking of “hot works” by those persons holding a current Exemption under Bush Fires Act 1954 s. 22C (Exemption from Total Fire Bans) 

On a day when the City of Kalamunda Chief Bush Fire Control Officer declares a Total Harvest and Movement Ban that coincides with a DFES declared TOTAL FIRE BAN the following applies according to Regulation 24C of the Bushfires Act 1954 (Total Fire Ban):

ACTIVITIES NOT PERMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THIS BAN

• Harvesting operations are not permitted,
• Any “hot works” (e.g. welding, grinding, cutting, heating etc) in the “open air” are not permitted, (note—these activities are not permitted during the term of any Total Fire Ban).
• Other – Use or operation of any engine, vehicle, plant, equipment or machinery in the area likely to cause a bush fire or contribute to the spread of a bush fire. 

ACTIVITIES PERMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THIS BAN

• Movement of Vehicles on “gazetted roads” (as described in Bush Fires regulation 24A(1) and Road Traffic Act 1974 section 5.1)).
• Movement of vehicles on a lane, driveway, yard or other area that provides access to, or a parking facility at, any residential, farming or business premises, if the area has been sufficiently cleared of inflammable material to prevent the escape of fire.
• Use or operation of a vehicle if it is for the prevention of an immediate and serious risk to the health or safety of a person or livestock, and only if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent the activity from creating a bush fire danger.
• Use or operations of vehicles and undertaking of “hot works” by those persons holding a current Exemption under Bush Fires Act 1954 s. 22C (Exemption from Total Fire Bans)